Netflix’s resident heartthrob, Rudy Pankow, stole our hearts with his breakout role as JJ Maybank in the hit teen drama series Outer Banks.
Known for his infectious golden retriever energy, the 24-year-old actor’s portrayal of the rebellious yet endearing character has launched him to immediate stardom.
Rudy Pankow as JJ Maybank in the action-adventure mystery teen drama streaming television series Outer Banks (Credit: Netflix)
As Rudy embraces his newfound Hollywood fame, curiosity surrounding his love life has become a hot topic of discussion. Beyond the captivating on-screen drama, he keeps his personal life more private than his character portrays.
However, fans can’t help but adore the sweet glimpses into his offscreen romance with his girlfriend, Elaine Siemek. But how did they meet? And how long have they been together?
From Hollywood fame to matters of the heart, we’ve got all the juicy details about Rudy Pankow and his charming love life with Elaine Siemek.
Rudy Pankow’s Journey From Alaska to Hollywood
Rudy Pankow is an American film and television actor best known for his captivating portrayal of JJ Maybank in the popular Netflix teen drama series Outer Banks.
Born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, Rudy’s passion for acting and production flourished during middle school, where he first experimented with creative content on YouTube.
While attending Ketchikan High School, he excelled academically and showcased his athleticism as he actively participated in soccer and cross-country events.
Rudy Pankow hails from Alaska and started getting into acting during middle school (Credit: Sara De Boer / Startraksphoto)
Initially, Rudy contemplated pursuing a culinary career, but fate had other plans. Driven by his love for the craft, he pursued his dream of becoming an actor and joined an acting institute from 2016 to 2017.
Determined to refine his skills, he further honed his talent by enrolling at Michael Woolson Studios, where he dedicated himself to mastering the art of acting.
Eager to gain more experience and broaden his horizons, Rudy took the stage in various theatrical productions. He demonstrated his talent through performing in classics such as The Nutcracker, Mary Poppins, and Oliver Twist.
Before his role in Outer Banks, he made his mark in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series The Politician, appearing in season 1, episode 5, titled “The Voter.”
Before his ascent to stardom due to his role in Outer Banks, Rudy Pankow starred in various theatrical productions and had several guest roles on television shows (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images / INSTARimages)
While Rudy may be widely recognized as JJ in Outer Banks, his acting credits expanded, and his talent has graced other TV series and movies, including Acting for a Cause.
His filmography also includes starring in the short film Lift Off alongside Drew Starkey and roles in Space Waves and The Crusades.
He also notably portrayed Sam Drake, Tom Holland’s brother, in the action-adventure film Uncharted in 2022 and Erwin Vandeveer in the 2023 comedy-drama Chocolate Lizards.
How Tall Is Rudy Pankow?
Born on August 12, 1998, Rudy Pankow stands tall at an impressive 6 feet (183 cm), making him notably above the average height for a male.
Standing tall at six feet, Rudy Pankow looked suave in a Dolce & Gabbana suit at the premiere of Outer Banks Season 3 held at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California on February 16, 2023 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Who Is Elaine Siemek? Behind-The-Scenes Star of Outer Banks
Elaine Siemek, born on November 21, 1995 and is 5 feet and 5 inches (165 cm) tall, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2018, setting the stage for a promising career in entertainment.
Her journey led her to the set of the hit Netflix series Outer Banks, where she works as an assistant to showrunner Jonas Pate.
Sharing a deep bond with the cast, Elaine regularly posts heartwarming photos from the set with stars like Madelyn Cline, Chase Stokes, Madison Bailey, and Jonathan Daviss.
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After the filming for Season 1 finished in October 2019, Elaine shared heartwarming photos alongside the stars, captioning the moment with, “I have such an insane amount of love for the cast and crew of Outer Banks. A family for life.”
Beyond her role as an assistant on the Netflix show, Elaine’s passion for film extends to photography. As a professional film photographer, she “enjoys taking environmental portraits” using a variety of cameras, including “professional SLR and TLR cameras, point-and-shoots, Polaroids, and Super 8s.”
Elaine’s creative pursuits also led her to collaborate with Rudy and Drew Starkey in the short film Virgo in February 2020.
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In an Instagram post, she expressed her gratitude to those who helped bring the film to life, writing, “VIRGO !!!! something Alyssa and I have been working on for so long !! to the badass @alyssa__toledo for making this shit happen, @drewstarkey @rudeth for being the best Jonah & Eli we could’ve asked for & everyone else who helped bring it to life & @madelyncline for taking PERFECT FUKIN PHOTOS – ps thanks Alyssa for pushing me to do my first (and last) acting gig 😂 I’ll stay behind the scenes from now on.”
How Did Rudy Pankow and Elaine Siemek Meet?
Making a captivating appearance on the popular show Outer Banks not only bestowed Rudy Pankow with stardom but also introduced him to someone special – his girlfriend, Elaine Siemek.
Elaine and Rudy’s paths first crossed on the set of Outer Banks during the filming of Season 1 in the summer of 2019.
Rudy Pankow as JJ Maybank in the action-adventure mystery teen drama streaming television series Outer Banks (Credit: Netflix)
While Rudy shines in front of the camera as the loyal sidekick JJ Maybank, Elaine works diligently behind the scenes as an assistant to the creator and executive producer of the show.
Their shared work on the Netflix series allowed their connection to blossom, and the pair eventually became a couple. Though they prefer to keep their romance private, Rudy and Elaine occasionally offer glimpses of their love on Instagram.
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The duo have been publicly linked since November 2020, when Rudy posted affectionate birthday photos of Elaine on his Instagram, declaring her as someone who “gives him butterflies every day.”
Rudy Pankow as a Protective and Supportive Boyfriend
Being a beloved star comes with its perks, but sometimes, the attention from fans can take a toll on the personal lives of celebrities and their loved ones. Rudy Pankow has shown himself to be a protective and supportive boyfriend in the face of online harassment directed at his girlfriend.
Rudy Pankow has proven himself to be a protective and supportive boyfriend to Elaine Siemek, who had to face online harassment from the actor’s followers (Credit: Xavier Collin / ABACA / INSTARimages)
In August 2021, Elaine Siemek faced baseless accusations from the actor’s followers, claiming she was selling Rudy’s photos to fan accounts. Frustrated by the false claims, Elaine took to her Instagram Story to set the record straight, vehemently denying the allegations.
She wrote, “I just want to make this clear since people like to say anything on the internet with no proof. I’ve never sent ‘exclusive’ photos or videos of Rudy to any fan account ever. I would definitely never do that without his permission. I’ve only ever sent 1 birthday video to someone that Rudy was a part of and agreed to be in. Please stop spreading baseless lies about me and please stop harassing me and my family over things you have no proof of.”
Rudy also posted on his Instagram to support his girlfriend, thanking his loving and supportive fans while condemning the disrespectful and harmful behavior toward Elaine.
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Alongside a photo of the couple, Rudy penned in the caption, “I want to thank my amazing fans/followers who have shown nothing but love and support and are here for just a fun time. Unfortunately I’m here to call out the disrespect and harassment someone who I love dearly is getting on a daily basis. It has gotten to the degree where lies are being spread and accusations are being said that go beyond the normal ‘hate.’”
He added, “Not only is she not what she is being accused of being, she is the complete opposite and actively is so. Accusing someone you don’t know of being abusive and manipulative is not ok, especially when you don’t know the relationship personally.”
In November 2022, Rudy organized a heartwarming birthday celebration for Elaine, which the 27-year-old joyfully shared on her Instagram account.
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Alongside a carousel of photos and videos from the intimate party, she gushed in the caption, “I’m so grateful for @rudeth putting this all together with my friends !!!! So fuckin happy to have so many amazing new and old friends to celebrate this life with.”
How the Couple Balances Work and Personal Life
In an exclusive interview with Seventeen in April 2020, Rudy Pankow revealed how his character JJ Maybank from Outer Banks, taught him the importance of balancing his acting career and personal life.
He acknowledged, “JJ taught me how to balance both worlds of not only acting as JJ, but also balancing work and not work. If it’s cherishing your family time or being in a relationship at some point, there’s a balance to everything.”
During their filming breaks, the couple seizes the opportunity to unwind and embark on exciting adventures across the globe.
Their love for travel brought them to the breathtaking shores of Italy, where Rudy captured some shots of Elaine in the crystal blue waters of Paraggi beach near Portofino on film.
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Elaine shared the snaps on Instagram, writing, “Paraggi 🫶 pc: @rudeth on @kodak.”
Later, their wanderlust led them to Mexico, where they immersed themselves in the vibrant culture, celebrating the Día de Muertos carnival, exploring ancient pyramids, and relishing the beauty of art, music, and food in Mexico City.
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In February 2023, the couple found themselves on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. Amidst the dreamlike surroundings, they cherished moments in the azure waters and embraced the island’s charm by spending time with the local stray dogs.